Archive for December, 2010

Cost Concerns Key in NEMA’s Future

Published at December 31, 2010 in NEMA. 0 Comments

Brockton, MA – The Northeastern Midget Association, making ready for its 59th season, is looking ahead. “The concern among Midget groups is global,” says 2008 and 2009 championship car owner Tim Bertrand. “Everybody is worried about costs.”

Other than safety (NEMA has updated rules mandating a detailed safety inspection), economics was of major concern at NEMA’s annual meeting in early December. Maintaining car counts and moving teams up from the very successful NEMA Lites program, about to start its fourth campaign, are key priorities.

President Mike Scrivani Jr. reports the 2011 NEMA schedule is taking shape and will be announced soon.

NEMA, Bertrand continues “is headed in the right direction” with a rule that reduces RPM limits for all engines by three percent under manufacture recommendations. Proposed by Bertrand and Mike Scrivani, the ruling met approval by both the NEMA contest board and at the general meeting. USAC and the Badger Racing Series have similar rules for 2011.

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Recession-Proof Your Projects at Auto Parts Swap ‘n Sell

Published at December 31, 2010 in Autoparts Swap N'Sell. 0 Comments

Vernon, CT — Whether your passion is for custom cars, imports, hot rods, or race cars, the annual Autoparts Swap ‘n Sell provides viable and affordable options to all automotive enthusiasts even in this difficult economic climate. On Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23, 2011, Start/Finish Production will host the annual Autoparts Swap ‘n Sell at the Eastern States Exposition “Home of the Big E” in West Springfield, MA.

This indoor, all-automotive swap meet and flea market provides affordable alternatives to help keep automotive projects on track. With a host of private vendors offering pre-owned merchandise and regional wholesalers and retailers offering affordable pricing, the event is sure to meet the needs of all gear heads. Vendors will occupy over three-acres of exhibit space and will feature everything from common to hard-to-find parts and accessories, tools, safety equipment and much more. The variety of goods available at the annual Autoparts Swap ‘n Sell is unrivaled; making this event a must for any automotive enthusiast.

With much of the preparation taking place over the winter, the timing of Swap ‘n Sell could not be better. And with a heated indoor facility, the conditions are perfect for finding just the right products at just the right prices. Plus, unlike online bargain hunting, Autoparts Swap ‘n Sell offers buyers an opportunity to inspect their purchases; eliminating much of the risk and all of the shipping costs.

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Seekonk Speedway Schedule Set for 2011

Published at December 30, 2010 in Seekonk. 0 Comments

Seekonk, MA — Seekonk Speedway officially released the 2011 schedule of events today. Kicking off the 66th season of action will be a double-header of sorts. On Saturday, April 30, the final practice session will be held for all 8 Seekonk divisions.

In addition to the final test session, the 1st Annual Classic Car Show & Go, presented in association with Mass Cruisers and Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment, will be held in the front lot, beginning at 8am. Classis Cars and Hot Rods will be judged by the Mass Cruisers and trophies will be awarded to the top three in each class.

The Go portion of the show will happen at 1pm, when some of the show cars journey out onto the 1/3 mile oval for a burn out contest. There will also be a 50/50 raffle to benefit Racing Against Cancer. While all of this is going on, there is free admission into the grandstands of the speedway to watch the final practice session for the ARC competitors and the burn out contest.

On Sunday, The Action Track of the East opens their 66th season on their traditional First Sunday of May. This year, May Day will feature the Pro Stocks, Late Models, Sport Trucks and Street Stocks competing for bragging rights and momentum for the upcoming season. They will compete each Saturday night through the month of September, with the 2011 ARC Champions being crowned on September 17.

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Engraving Awards and Gifts Rallycross to Kick Off 2011 Racing Season at Stafford Motor Speedway

Published at December 29, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — With the colder temperatures beginning to bring snow to the Northeast, Stafford Motor Speedway is gearing up for its first event of its 2011 schedule with the Engraving Awards and Gifts RallyCross and Eastern States RallyCross Challenge Championship on January 15 and 16.

As part of the New England Region SCCA RallyCross season, drivers will participate in two New England Region Championship events as well as the Eastern States RallyCross Challenge Championship over a two-day period. Drivers will be eligible to win SCCA Contingency Awards and they will compete to establish who is the best RallyCross driver in the Northeast.

RallyCross is a timed competition pitting a driver and vehicle against a defined course. Courses are set up on a non-paved surface such as dirt, gravel, or snow, and drivers attempt to make their way through the course as fast as possible. At the end of the event, all of a driver’s times are added together. The total times of each driver within a class are compared and the driver with the lowest cumulative time in each race class is the winner. The Stafford course is setup throughout the vast parking lot at the Speedway with a series of both high and low speed corners.

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Cory Casagrande Moving from DARE Stock to Limited Late Model Ranks in 2011 at Stafford Speedway

Published at December 29, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — The 2010 season was a year of firsts for Cory Casagrande on the Stafford half mile. An established racer on the Wild Thing Kart circuit, making the move to the Stafford Dare Stock division was a big step. Cory made his 2010 rookie campaign a good one racking up 3 wins, 12 top 5, and 15 top 10 finishes in 21 starts, finishing 5th in the points standings. 2011 will again see major changes at the Casagrande Motorsports camp, Cory will take the next step on the Stafford Speedway full body ladder and pilot the number 1 Limited Late Model next season.

“I’m really excited to make the move to the Limited Late Models next year,” says Casagrande, “it’s kind of a big step but I feel that the full season in the Dare Stocks really has improved my confidence and ability in the car.”

A graduate of the Wild Thing Kart Series, which runs weekly on the Stafford Mini-Mile, Cory stepped into the Dare Stock division in 2010 hoping to consistently finish races and possibly find victory lane. Yet in only his fourth start in a Dare Stock he found CARQUEST victory lane, and as the season progressed he found himself in the midst of a tight point race. After a successful 2010 season in the Dare Stocks the Casagrande team felt like it was time to move up.

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2010 Senior Outlaw Champion Dylan Kopec Moving to SK Lights at Stafford for 2011

Published at December 29, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — Reigning Wild Thing Kart Senior Outlaw champion Dylan Kopec will be making a step up in competition for the 2011 season, moving from the Wild Thing Kart ranks into Stafford Speedway’s SK Light Modified division.

Kopec scored 6 wins this year in the Wild Thing Kart Series, run on Monday nights at Stafford on the track’s mini mile. Kopec was in a see-saw duel with David Arute for much of the 2010 season and the two drivers headed into the final race of the season tied in points. Kopec won the race to give him the championship and now has his sights set on Stafford’s SK Light Modified division.

“I’m real excited about moving up to the SK Lights,” said Kopec. “The only goal I have for myself is to keep the car in one piece and finish the season. It doesn’t really matter where I end up, I just want to be able to finish the year and not wreck the car. I’m just going to try to get as much seat time as I can and learn about the car.”

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Senior Outlaw Karts Provide Tough Test for Stafford’S CARQUET Champions for Charities Competitors

Published at December 29, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — The Wild Thing Kart Series at Stafford Speedway has served as a breeding ground for young racers. Kyle Spencer, Kyle Casagrande, and Cory Casagrande are all products of the series, which just completed its fifth season on the Stafford mini-mile. Austin Bessette, Dylan Kopec, Brandon Michael, and Jesse Ruocco will graduate to the half-mile in 2011 making the Wild Thing Kart Series a stomping ground for Stafford’s stars of tomorrow.

While the youth have proved themselves on the Stafford Mini-Mile, the veteran champions have their opportunity on June 28, 2011 as a part of the 8th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday event. Champions of the past and present will unite for charity and pilot Sr. Outlaw go-karts on the Mini-Mile in the CARQUEST Champions for Charities race. The Sr. Outlaw division was home to all four Wild Thing Kart Series graduates from 2010 and Dylan Kopec was the 2010 champion. The division is the premier division of the Wild Thing Kart Series; they are the fastest and most competitive in the program.

The Wild Thing Kart Series was created by Wade and Sandy Gagner in 1998 and originally competed at the Pinnacle Speedway in Massachusetts. The series was moved and began competing on the Stafford Mini-Mile in 2006 and has seen tremendous growth. The 2010 season saw an average of 120 karts at the track each week. The series is based off of four divisions divided by age; Cubs, Sprints, Junior Outlaws, and Senior Outlaw with speed and kart size increasing through each division. Each kart is built by Wade Gagner, this guarantees that each kart is built to the same specifications and allows for a level playing field for all drivers.

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2010 Review: Vets Lead Modified Tour

Published at December 29, 2010 in NASCAR WMT. 0 Comments

Diversity Of Experience Plays Out Every Race

Daytona Beach, FL – More than two decades into the youth movement in the upper levels of NASCAR racing, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour continues to exhibit a high level of age and experience diversity, one of the many aspects that make competition in the Tour unique.

During the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, 50-year-old Mark Martin registered five wins. This day in age, however, that is the exception and not the rule. Prior to Martin, the last driver to win a Cup race at 50 or older was Morgan Shepherd in 1993.

PICTURE THIS: THE BEST OF 2010 IN PHOTOS

At the touring series level, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East has not had a 50-plus competitor reach Victory Lane since Dave Dion won at Oxford (Maine) Plains Speedway in 2005 and the last K&N Pro Series West race won by a full-time competitor with that minimum age was Bill Schmitt in 1992.

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Hirschman back in Ole Blue for 2011

Published at December 24, 2010 in NASCAR WMT. 0 Comments

BRE Racing is excited to have a Hirschman driving Ole Blue again. This time Matt Hirschman will get behind the wheel of the Boehler family modified for the 2011 Whelen Modified Tour season.

Matt had this to say about his opportunity:” I’m looking forward to returning to the Whelen Modified Tour and joining BRE Racing to continue the successful relationship that started in 1995 when my father teamed up with them to win back to back NASCAR Championships. We already know each other well and I think this is all around a great fit. It will be an honor to drive for a team that is steep in modified racing history and one of the few full-time rides remaining on the Tour. I can’t wait to start working with the team to get ready for the 2011 season driving the famous Ole Blue #3.”

Car Chief Greg Fournier and Crew Chief Scott Richards are equally excited to work with Matt, as they and BRE crew members are hard at work on the cars in the race shop. There will be more to come from this new team in the near future. I would like to wish all the BRE Racing fans, and supporters a great and happy safe holiday season.

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Hirschman to Return to The Tour with BRE

Published at December 23, 2010 in NASCAR WMT. 0 Comments

Last Competed Full-Time In 2008

Daytona Beach, FL — Recently announced by Boehler Racing Enterprises (BRE), Matt Hirschman will take over behind the wheel of the famed No. 3 ‘Ole Blue’ on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for the 2011 season.

Hirschman, who last competed full-time in 2008, will succeed Ryan Preece as driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet Modified, which is one of the longest tenured teams in all of NASCAR racing. Hirschman’s father, Tony, drove ‘Ole Blue’ to Whelen Modified Tour championships in 1995 and 1996.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Whelen Modified Tour and joining BRE Racing to continue the successful relationship that started in 1995 when my father teamed up with them to win back-to-back NASCAR championships,” said Hirschman through a BRE statement. “We already know each other well and I think this is all around a great fit.”

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CARQUEST Champions for Charities Highlights Extreme Tuesday Event

Published at December 23, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — Stafford Motor Speedway along with CARQUEST Auto Parts are constantly searching for innovative ways to be involved in the community through local charitable organizations and 2011 will be no different with the addition of the CARQUEST Champions for Charities race event. This special event, which is set to accompany the 8th Annual CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday event on June 28, 2011, will be an invitation only format that will pair charitable organizations with talented open-wheel champions from the past and the present. Stafford Speedway and CARQUEST will post a guaranteed minimum donation of $3,000 to the driver’s charities.

“The concept is to get the fans and charitable organizations involved in a fun event that will showcase driving talents of past open-wheel champions,” said Mark Arute, Stafford Speedway General Manger, “We feel that the CARQUEST Champions for Charities event will compliment the already exciting CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday show offering a unique experience for the drivers and the fans.”

The race format is two 8-lap qualifying races and a 15-lap feature on the Stafford Mini Mile with drivers piloting Senior Outlaw Caged Go-Karts from the Wild Thing Kart Series. Each driver will have a specified charity that they will be representing. Beginning in January and culminating on the race day, fans will be able to donate money to their favorite driver’s charity. The driver posting the most funds raised will obtain a preferred starting position in the qualifying races. Stafford Speedway and CARQUEST are pledging a guaranteed $3,000 dollars to be distributed evenly to all the driver charities.

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Stafford Speedway Contingency Program Pays Out Over $30,000 in 2010 Contingency Awards

Published at December 17, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — During the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season at Stafford Motor Speedway, drivers took home an extra $30,575 in contingency bonuses. Of that total, $28,375 came from Stafford Motor Speedway’s Contingency Program, while Reliable Welding and Speed’s sponsorship of the track’s Rookie of the Year Program totaled another $2,200.

In the SK Modified® division, CARQUEST Auto Parts, The Davidson Company, Valvoline, Call Before You Dig, and New England Racing Fuel contributed a grand total of $14,000. In the Late Model division, CARQUEST Auto Parts, H+R Block of Stafford Springs, and New England Racing Fuel provided a grand total of $6,500. In the SK Light division, New England Racing Fuel and the Darrell Yarborough Nationwide Insurance Agency contributed a grand total of $2,625. In the Limited Late Model division, CARQUEST Auto Parts and New England Racing Fuel contributed a grand total of $3,675 for competitors, and New England Racing Fuel contributed $2,100 to DARE Stock competitors.

Stafford’s two largest contributors to the Contingency Program this season were CARQUEST Auto Parts and New England Racing Fuel with their Sunoco Brand. CARQUEST Auto Parts paid out an additional $7,600 to drivers in the SK Modified®, Late Model, and DARE Stock divisions, while New England Racing Fuel supported all five of Stafford’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing divisions with certificates that were redeemable at the track for Sunoco Race Fuel.

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Santa and His Sleigh—Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

Published at December 17, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

With twinkling eyes and a snowy beard grown long over the last nine months, it’s easy to believe Santa lives inside Glenn Johnson. “When you’re holding a kid and your beard doesn’t pull off,” Johnson said, “they go, ‘it’s the real one!’”

When he was first asked to be Santa for the Holiday Light Tour, which is put on by the Tolland Fire Department, it came in the form of a letter by Assistant Fire Chief Doug Racicot. “I bought a real good Santa suit,” said Johnson, and the rest was, as they say, magic.

Racicot knew Johnson, who owns Morrison and Johnson Automotive in Tolland, also built race cars. In 2009, Racicot asked for advice about building a sleigh to lead the light tour, which has been going on since 2002.

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Stafford Speedway Competitors Take Home $35,500 in 2010 Post-Season Awards

Published at December 17, 2010 in Stafford. 0 Comments

Stafford Springs, CT — With the 2010 Stafford Motor Speedway NASCAR Racing season in the history books, it is time once again for competitors to be rewarded for their season-long efforts through the Stafford Motor Speedway point fund and track contingency awards.

At the end of each racing season, Stafford Motor Speedway pays out 5% of its total purses for the year as a point fund for the top-15 points finishers in each of its five weekly divisions. The 2010 Stafford Motor Speedway point fund totaled in excess of $19,000 with track champions Keith Rocco, Ryan Posocco, Matt Galko, Dan Flannery, and Tony Membrino, Jr. taking home the lion’s share of their respective division’s point funds.

Adding to the Stafford Motor Speedway post-season awards was $16,500 in track award money that was paid to the top-10 points finishers from the SK Modified®, Late Model, SK Light Modified, and Limited Late Model divisions. The top-10 in the SK Modifieds® were paid a total of $10,000, the top-10 Late Model drivers $3,000, the top-10 SK Light Modified drivers $2,000, and the top-10 Limited Late Model drivers $1,500. The Stafford Speedway track awards push the final post-season bonus to $35,500 that was paid out to Stafford Motor Speedway competitors for their efforts during the 2010 season.

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Touring Series Trio Named All-America

Published at December 15, 2010 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and NASCAR WMT. 0 Comments

Santos, Truex, Holmes Earn AARWBA Recognition

Daytona Beach, FL — NASCAR touring series drivers Bobby Santos, Ryan Truex and Eric Holmes were recently named to the 2010 All-America Racing Team by the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.

The 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, Santos earned First Team All-America status in the Touring Series category. Santos, from Franklin, Mass., registered four wins during his first Whelen Modified Tour title campaign. The youngest champion in Tour history at 25, he became the first driver from the Modified ranks to garner First Team honors by the AARWBA.

Truex, from Mayetta, N.J., was selected Second Team All-America in the Touring Series category. The 18-year-old repeated as NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion in 2010 with a pair of wins and top fives in eight of the season’s 10 races.

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Christmas is Not the Finish Line

Published at December 15, 2010 in RWJM. 0 Comments

During the year there are many significant dates. On the racing calendar Daytona marks the beginning of the racing season. Time to get things started. For Christians, Christmas marks the beginning of the life of Christ. Greetings, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Are you busy? Do you have your shopping done? Too many parties, not enough time? The holidays can be a tremendously busy time. We spend more money than we have. We struggle to get everything done. For most of us it is like a race. We are looking for the finish line, if we can just get through to Christmas morning. I am here to tell you, Christmas is not the finish line. Christmas is the beginning of life. Christmas is the gift that God sent to each one of us. The opportunity to live!

We race for the finish line, but how many of us race to the starting line? The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming birth of our Savior.
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Canadian Theetge Files First Entry to New Smyrna ACT Event

Published at December 14, 2010 in ACT, ACT LM Tour, New Smyrna and Série ACT Castrol. 0 Comments

Two-time ACT Série Castrol Champion, Donald Theetge from Quebec City, Canada is the first to file an entry for the inaugural Goodyear Speedweek Cup event to be held at the New Smyrna Speedway (NSS) in Florida on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th as part of the World Series of Asphalt Short Track Racing.

The “World Series” will host the American Canadian Tour (ACT) for the first time in February of 2011. A field of between 26 and 30 teams are expected to make the migration to the warmer Florida climate from all over New England and the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

The recently announced purse of over $33,000.00 brought immediate reaction from veteran competitor Theetge, “I am very proud to be the first to enter this event. I have raced with ACT for over 20 years and try to support them in any way I can. This will be a great way to bring my team from the cold and snow of Quebec City to Florida for a mid-winter break. We are all looking forward to it.” Theetge is considered one of the best ACT stars on tracks of ½ mile or longer. The very fast, banked ½ mile at NSS is expected to suit his style.

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Two Events Added to 2011 ACT Bond/WIX Tiger Tour Schedule

Published at December 13, 2010 in ACT and ACT Tiger Sportsman. 0 Comments

Riverside Speedway Event Date Revised

American Canadian Tour (ACT) officials have announced a revision to the 2011 Bond/WIX Tiger Sportsmen Tour schedule that was previously released. With the addition of two events, one each at White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, NH and Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY, the schedule now includes five events for 2011. Also the Riverside Speedway (Groveton, NH) event has been moved to Saturday, September 17.

After the season opening Memorial Day event at Thunder Road, the Tiger Tour will now return to White Mountain Motorsports Park (WMMP) on Saturday, July 16. The picturesque ¼ mile returns to the 2011 schedule after putting on one of the most competitive events of the Tiger Tour’s 2010 season.

The ½ mile Airborne Speedway in Plattsburgh, NY has been added to the 2011 schedule. With the Riverside event being moved to September 18, the Airborne race will now decide the 2011 Bond/WIX Tiger Sportsmen Tour Champion on Saturday, October 8. The 100 lap Tiger Tour event will join the season concluding combination Fall Foliage 200 for the ACT Late Model Tour and the Série ACT Castrol Edge as one of the most anticipating stock car shows of the year in the region.

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2011 Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge Cancelled

Published at December 13, 2010 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

According to BodynBobsled.com, the “2011 Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge in Lake Placid has been canceled. More details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.”

Champions Honored in Awards Gala

Published at December 11, 2010 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR WMT and NASCAR WSMT. 0 Comments

Year-End Ceremony Spotlights Touring Series Titlists

Charlotte, NC — In a place where NASCAR history is on display, its future was celebrated as six champions in NASCAR’s developmental series were honored during the Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala in the Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

The festivities featured the champions and top drivers from all of NASCAR’s North American regional touring series, who gathered for the special year-end celebration in the heartland of stock-car racing.

“It’s really rewarding, from our perspective to come to an event like tonight, at a facility like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, in a great city like Charlotte, to recognize so many NASCAR champions,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president for racing operations. “This year’s championship lineup is impressive to say the least.”

The 2010 champions included Ryan Truex (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), Eric Holmes (NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), DJ Kennington (NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1), Germán Quiroga (NASCAR Mexico Series), Bobby Santos (NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and Burt Myers (NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour).

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Friesen Ready for Back-to-Back TQ-Midget Indoor Events

Published at December 11, 2010 in Boardwalk Hall, Dunkin Donuts Center and Indoor Tracks. 0 Comments

Trenton, NJ — Stewart Friesen wants another photograph in his garage.

The likeable Canadian driver, who now resides in Old Forge, N.Y., still looks at the picture that shows him, Joey Payne and Jack Hewitt in Victory Lane from the indoor TQ-Midget race in Niagara Falls, N.Y.

That picture brings a smile to his face as it marked the one and only indoor victory that Friesen, 27, scored when he was a mere 16-year-old driver.

Now, he wants more pictures and Victory Lane photos.

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Rocco Crowned Whelen All-American Champ

Published at December 10, 2010 in NASCAR WA-AS, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. 0 Comments

Awards Banquet Celebrates 2010 Top Drivers

Concord, NC —  Keith Rocco’s breakthrough season culminated Friday night with his coronation as the 2010 national champion at the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet at the Charlotte Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Rocco, 25, from Wallingford, Conn., also collected his third straight NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Connecticut championship, as well as the asphalt Modified Division track titles at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway and Waterford (Conn.) Speedbowl.

“Racing was all I ever wanted to do,” Rocco said. “Winning was just a bonus.”

After finishing fourth in the national standings in 2007 and 2008, and second in 2009, Rocco put together a season for the record books. He had 21 wins, 39 top fives and 50 top 10s in 53 starts en route to collecting 810 points — the maximum total a driver can accumulate.

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Notebook: Family Drives Rocco’s Title

Published at December 10, 2010 in NASCAR WA-AS, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. 0 Comments

Team shares in national championship celebration

Charlotte, NC —  During the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banquet at the Crown Ballroom at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Jeff Rocco joked that he was born minutes before his twin brother Keith — in the “only race he ever let me win.”

While that may be true, the twins made a trip to Victory Lane together on Friday night, as Keith Rocco was crowned the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion. Jeff Rocco serves as the crew chief for Keith at Stafford Motor Speedway.

“We love to race,” Jeff Rocco said. “That’s where our heart lies and our passion lies. If this never happens again, we’re still going to have fun every Thursday, every Friday, every Saturday night. We’re going to give it our all no matter what happens. We love to race. This is just a huge bonus.”

Keith Rocco won 21 races in 2010 at three Connecticut short tracks — Stafford, Waterford Speedbowl and Thompson International Speedway. Jeff is the crew chief at Stafford, while Shane Hopkins serves as the crew chief at Waterford; Rocco won both track championships.

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Notebook: Helliwell Cashes On 2nd Chance

Published at December 10, 2010 in Lee USA, Monadnock and NASCAR WA-AS. 0 Comments

State champions bask in spotlight of award’s banquet

Charlotte, NC — Wayne Helliwell Jr. thought he had gotten a crack at this celebrating a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series title once before.

But after running away with the New Hampshire state championship a few years ago, Helliwell lost it after encountering what he coined “technical issues” with his home track of Lee USA Speedway in Lee, N.H. Given another opportunity in 2010, though, Helliwell finally capped off a Whelen All-American Series championship season at Lee USA with nine wins in the track’s Late Model division.

For the second-generation Lee racer, victory was understandably sweet.

“This is big,” said Helliwell, of Dover, N.H. “To overcome all that stuff before is just huge. Racing with my dad for so many years, he was never able to pull a win out of Lee. So to be able to win a championship out of there — and the state championship stuff that goes with it — is really big for the whole family.”

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Whelen All-American Series Set for 30th Season of Competition in 2011

Published at December 9, 2010 in NASCAR WA-AS, Stafford, Thompson and Waterford. 0 Comments

Track Operators and Promoters Gather in Charlotte

Charlotte, NC — Track operators and promoters of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and NASCAR touring series events joined the Champions Week celebration to close out a successful 2010 season.

At the group’s gathering in the morning at the Charlotte Convention Center, NASCAR officials highlighted the importance of the series’ history and spoke about the upcoming 30th season of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. A special anniversary logo was unveiled for next season.

“This group is the heart and soul of NASCAR,” said Steve O’Donnell, senior vice president, competition for NASCAR. “It’s the hard work and dedication of the people here that make NASCAR what it is to race fans everywhere.”

Nine tracks were recognized for being part of the family of tracks for all 30 years of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition:
• Bowman Gray Stadium, Winston-Salem, N.C.
• Greenville (S.C.) Pickens Speedway
• Holland Motorsports Complex, Holland, N.Y.
• Langley Speedway, Hampton, Va.
• Old Dominion Speedway, Manassas, Va.
• Riverhead (N.Y.) Raceway
• South Boston (Va.) Speedway
• Spencer Speedway, Williamson, N.Y.
• Stafford (Conn) Motor Speedway

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Santos Wins Karting Showdown

Published at December 8, 2010 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, NASCAR WA-AS, NASCAR WMT and NASCAR WSMT. 0 Comments

Whelen Modified Champ Claims Bragging Rights

Charlotte, NC — Bobby Santos added another title to his racing resume Wednesday.

Santos, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, came from the rear of the field to win the Third Annual NASCAR Champions/Media Showdown at Victory Lane Indoor Karting in Charlotte on Wednesday.

“It was a lot of fun racing with those guys,” said Santos, who started 13th in the 14-kart field. “It was interesting coming up through the field and made it a lot of fun. I want to thank NASCAR and all the media for putting this on, it was a lot of fun.”

The event is part of a week-long series of special activities in the Charlotte area for drivers and track representatives leading up to the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 10, and the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala on Saturday, Dec. 11.

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Peace that Passes All Understanding

Published at December 8, 2010 in RWJM. 0 Comments

When was the last time you sat down and relaxed, I mean really relaxed? You let the things of the day slip from your mind, your worry, anxiety, stress just melt away, calmed by the assurance that you and your life were in good hands, the hands of Jesus. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Where do we think peace comes from? A win at the track, a great effort by the pit crew, a well run race. We think peace equals happiness, when I am happy I will be peaceful. I don’t think that is quite it. Happiness is a moving target, there is always something more, something else we need to be happy. When we attain that thing, for a brief time, we are “happy”, then our mind starts to wander and our heart starts to pine for something new, something different.

Being at peace is not something we can make happen. We can try to stop doing things and stop going here and there, but the truth be told our insides are still churning. We are in constant motion searching, thinking, wanting, trying, activity that is difficult to stop. Being that way is a product of our environment. We have been taught that we have to make things happen, we have to be on the ball, we have to be one step ahead. That is not true.

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Champion Profile: Myers’ Title Worth The Wait

Published at December 7, 2010 in NASCAR WSMT. 0 Comments

Southern Tour Championship Five Years In The Making

Burt Myers already has a résumé most drivers can only dream about. Numerous track championships and more wins than can be remembered. Now Myers can claim the final piece of the puzzle – a NASCAR touring championship.

Myers will be in Charlotte to take part in the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Series Gala on Saturday night at the Charlotte Convention Center’s Crown Ballroom, adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This championship is part of a trifecta for Myers, who also will celebrate his track title from Bowman Gray Stadium and the North Carolina state championship during the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series awards banquet to be held Friday night also at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“I can’t wait for next week,” said Myers from Las Vegas, where he was on hand to participate in the Myers Brothers Luncheon that is named after Billy and Bobby Myers, who were NASCAR competitors in the 1950’s and related to the younger Myers. “We are going to celebrate as a family.”

Although Myers will have his name on the trophy, he is quick to point out he wouldn’t have the title without the help and support of his family and close friends who have been with him a long time.

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Champion Car Owner Profile: Philip Smith

Published at December 7, 2010 in NASCAR WSMT. 0 Comments

In 2005 Burt Myers, along with his brother Jason, decided to take part in the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour. Burt knew it would take a total team effort.

The brothers work on their cars side-by-side in the same shop and their dad, Gary, is ever-present working and offering advice to both sons as they prepare for each race. While Gary is directly involved as Jason’s car owner, Burt has had the same car owner since he began racing on the tour – Philip Smith.

Smith has worked with Myers to secure sponsorship and help make sure the team had what it needs to be successful, but Burt Myers added Smith also brings something else crucial for the team’s success.

“Philip is the kind of guy that knows how to treat people right and that makes a big difference,” Burt Myers said. “He has been with me a long time and we have had the chance to enjoy a lot of wins together. Obviously I am as happy for him as anybody getting to celebrate a NASCAR Touring title.”

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Champion Crew Chief Profile: Scott Widener

Published at December 7, 2010 in NASCAR WSMT. 0 Comments

There will be many crew chiefs coming to Charlotte this week to celebrate their team’s accomplishments, but no one will have more reason to celebrate that Scott Widener. Widener, who directed not one, but two championship campaigns for Burt Myers in 2010.

Widener will participate in Saturday night’s NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Awards Gala in Charlotte and he will also celebrate winning the North Carolina state title during Friday night’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Award Banquet at the Crown Ballroom in the Charlotte Convention Center adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Widener has been with Myers for four years. Like Myers, Widener grew up around Bowman Gray Stadium and dreamed of competing at the track since he was a little boy.

“I started working in the pits as soon as I turned 16,” Widener said. “I have been around that track for nearly 25 years now and I am glad Burt and I started working together a few years ago.”

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